Yves here. The march towards a tyranny in the US continues apace. Below we feature a clip in which police chief in Minneapolis take the unusual but entirely warranted position of criticizing Federal goons, hiding behind masks as ICE officers, for repeated civil rights violations. The segment below omits an opening section in which the Brooklyn Park chief of police takes pains to say that he and his officers believe in enforcing immigration laws and until recently have had a cooperative relationship with Federal immigration enforcement personnel.
This is 2m 19s of his 3m 53s video which I think shows the highlights.
ICE has stopped, assaulted, and threatened off duty Minneapolis officers.
Trump’s Gestapo attacks the Real Police charged with protecting the citizens. pic.twitter.com/1H9EAfZ7oC
— Mike Lamb (@ML73050761) January 21, 2026
It is important to know what a bad look this is. Conservatives generally support police. They, particularly libertarians, also are normally behind the rule of law since they want it enforced. Seeing a wall of policemen standing behind a senior officer to attest to abuses of off-duty police by ICE thugs is an important message that will register with those not in the pro-Trump white supremacist camp that ICE really is operating like jackboots.
And it is not as if this law-breaking is limited to Minnesota:
ICE physically attacks lawyer—stand between her and clients they’re trying to detain.
“Don’t push me!” lawyer yells. “Why you trying to pick them up?”
“It’s none of your business,” agent scolds.
“It is my business—I’m their attorney,” she replies. “It’s EXACTLY my business!”… pic.twitter.com/KZKFRarPpv
— LongTime🤓FirstTime👨💻 (@LongTimeHistory) January 20, 2026
Below we see the DOJ using the same intimidation tactic against Minnesota officials it is pursuing with Fed governor Lisa Cook and Fed Chair Jerome Powell, that of issuing criminal subpoenas against them to try to get them to resign or otherwise back down. These filings are clearly retaliatory, since they come shortly after Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison on behalf of the state and the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul sued to obtain a temporary injunction against ICE operations in the state. The Federal judge hearing the matter was ready to act quickly but wanted the Federal government to respond promptly. I have not read her comments in full but the press account make it sound as if she was including the Martin Luther King day holiday in her timetable.
The response, at least if remarks by Federal officials are any guide, sound like a handwave, that the filing is “legally frivolous“. If that is all they intend to argue, they got nuthin.
And if they really believe that, why deploy the club of criminal subpoenas issued against officials? Why not let the litigation play out?
On top of that, if I read the story below correctly, the criminal subpoena seeks official records of Ellison’s office related to the ICE operation. That is attorney-client privileged given that the office is now acting on behalf of the state against ICE. The high-handedness really is breathtaking.
By Jessica Corbett, staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams
The US Department of Justice on Tuesday subpoenaed top Minnesota officials, including Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, as part of the DOJ’s investigation into alleged conspiracy to impede the thousands of federal immigration agents sent to the Twin Cities by President Donald Trump—a probe Walz has condemned as part of a broader trend of the administration “weaponizing the justice system.”
Walz—who ran for vice president in 2024—was similarly critical of the grand jury subpoenas, which were also served to state Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, and Ramsey County Attorney John Choi.
“Mr. President, Minnesota invites you to see our values in action,” Walz began a lengthy statement shared on social media. “But let me be absolutely clear: The state of Minnesota will not be drawn into political theater. This Department of Justice investigation, sparked by calls for accountability in the face of violence, chaos, and the killing of Renee Good, does not seek justice.”
“It is a partisan distraction,” Walz declared, detailing how the flood of immigration agents is negatively impacting communities and arguing that the Trump administration should focus on “restoring trust, accountability, and real law and order, not political retaliation.”
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) January 20, 2026
After US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Jonathan Ross fatally shot Good earlier this month, Trump and others in his administration called the deceased 37-year-old mother of three a “domestic terrorist” and claimed the ICE officer was acting in self-defense, a narrative betrayed by numerous videos, eyewitness accounts, and detailed analyses of the shooting.
As protesters continued to fill Minnesota’s streets, Ellison and the Twin Cities sued the US Department of Homeland Security—which includes Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE—in hopes of ending what the attorney general called a “federal invasion.” The ACLU quickly followed with a class action lawsuit aimed at ending DHS agents’ unlawful stops and arrests.
In a Tuesday statement about the subpoena, Ellison noted the suit he recently filed on behalf of the state:
Less than two weeks ago, federal agents shot and killed a Minnesotan in broad daylight. Now, instead of seriously investigating the killing of Renee Good, Trump is weaponizing the justice system against any leader who dares stand up to him.
Today, my office has received a criminal grand jury subpoena from the Department of Justice. It is a subpoena for records and documents related to my office’s work with respect to federal immigration enforcement, not for me personally. Everything about this is highly irregular, especially the fact that this comes shortly after my office sued the Trump administration to challenge their illegal actions within Minnesota.
Let’s be clear about why this is happening: Donald Trump is coming after the people of Minnesota, and I’m standing in his way. I will not be intimidated, and I will not stop working to protect Minnesotans from Trump’s campaign of retaliation and revenge.“
Frey—who told ICE to “get the fuck out of Minneapolis” after Ross killed Good—said Tuesday that “when the federal government weaponizes its power to try to intimidate local leaders for doing their jobs, every American should be concerned.”
“We shouldn’t have to live in a country where people fear that federal law enforcement will be used to play politics or crack down on local voices they disagree with,” he continued. “In Minneapolis, we won’t be afraid. We know the difference between right and wrong, and, as mayor, I’ll continue doing the job I was elected to do: keeping our community safe and standing up for our values.”
Christina Harvey, executive director of the progressive advocacy group Stand Up America, also asserted that the DOJ’s probe “isn’t a legitimate search for wrongdoing. It’s an attempt to intimidate elected officials who are demanding justice for the killing of Renee Good and trying to protect their communities from Trump’s chaotic immigration crackdown.”
“Trump is once again weaponizing the DOJ against his political opponents while shielding his own DHS secretary and ICE agents from accountability as they violate due process, use lethal violence against American citizens, and show a clear disregard for human life,” she continued. “This administration mistakes bullying for strength and believes it is above the law.”
If US Attorney General Pam Bondi “really cared about justice, she’d be investigating the killing of Renee Good,” Harvey added, “not harassing public servants for doing their jobs.”
News of the subpoenas came as Greg Bovino, commander at large for CBP, and Marcos Charles, executive associate director of ICE, defended federal agents’ operations during a Tuesday afternoon press conference, with the former claiming that “what we do is legal, ethical, and moral.”
Sharing a video of Bovino’s remarks on social media, journalist Aaron Rupar simply said, “Bovino lies shamelessly.”
Here is a very off kilter suggestion concerning this subject.
First: The American Homeland is at present suffering under an “occupation” of the domestic territory by armed agents of the United States Federal Government.
Second: The “occupation” has developed to the level of the use of lethal force by the Organs of State Security against the populace of the American Homeland.
Third: By International law, the population of an “occupied” territory is legally allowed to fight against said “occupation” with all appropriate means.
The Administrations claim to be combatting “dangerous radical elements” is being shown to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Complain as many might about the “Imperial Presidency” of Donald Trump, the main fact to be considered is that he is the product of the present-day version of American electoral politics. If the political system as manifest in Washington, District of Columbia, does not remove him, then it will be a demonstration of the fact that Donald Trump is not, at base, the real problem. The System that raised him to high office and keeps him there is the real problem. Make of that what you will.
Stay safe.
Well put, a cogent observation. At a deeper level, what we see now is the product of America’s culture of rabid capitalism itself in which human values are subjugated to “profit above all.” The outcome of such is ultimately a neo-feudal society of few “nobles” and many “serfs” (chattel) as opposed to laws and the view of the public as sovereign to be taken seriously. I would add that regardless of the party affiliation of the next president, he or she will not walk this kind of federal behavior back beyond optics but will just store it away for future use.
Yes. This also involves the Iron Law of Institutions. Roughly, Democracy eventually devolves into Oligarchy, which then devolves into dysfunction. Soon, the entire system collapses from the internal contradictions. If I read my history correctly, we are at the beginning of the collapse phase of the process. Plan accordingly.
See: https://maitaimedia.net/the-iron-law-of-institutions/
Stay safe.
Yes, thanks!
Thanks for the link.
I’d caution about taking anything from this site seriously. It seems to be run by or is sympathetic to the now dissolved NZ Loyal political party. Basically, these people are fruitcakes and if loyal to anything, that would be to licking Trumps boots, to the extent of promoting the birther bs as fact. Thankfully, they sank without trace at the last election.
https://maitaimedia.net/deep-state-dossier/
Huh? It’s also much like Pournelle’s Iron Law of Bureaucracy.
Or like Jonathon Swartz’s 2007 description of the Iron Law of Institutions.
Or even like Robert Michels 1911 theory of the Iron Law of Oligarchy.
/;)
The general concept would seem to go rather far back:
with Polybius’ variant (democracy/aristocracy/ monarchy) having a particular resonance with our current mess (at least for me…)
No I think Trump is the problem. “The system” prefers to use the laws that they write to conduct class war against the lower orders, white and black. When they invade other countries they pretend it’s because they have a “responsibility to protect.” The law is their weapon and not something to be discarded or ignored. They don’t come right out and say, Mafia style, I wanted the oil and I took it.
Trump on the other hand is an anarchist mocking that system and the people around him are the dregs of our society–the ones who should really be deported. The system did create a kind of imperial presidency for their own purposes and now Trump has the car keys–as Larry Johnson likes to say–and is careening on a joy ride. There’s no political future in this IMO but we are in deep trouble.
As a resident of MSP, Let me assure you that quotes aren’t necessary. This is a paramilitary occupation that is affecting every aspect of life in the area. We, as in most of the population, either know or have seen someone get disappeared or assaulted by the Feds.
What’s needed is mass defense. Does MN have ‘stand your ground’ laws? You have every right to shoot icestapo on site to defend yourself. All state officers also have a right to shoot on site to defend the populace.
Minnesotans have a duty to retreat: https://www.house.mn.gov/sessiondaily/Story/18572
Reading the above the duty to retreat does not apply to people within their own homes.
You’ll no be doubt relieved that JD Vance is coming to the Twin Cities this weekend to meet with ICE. Really.
Minneapolis Star Tribune:
The latest: JD Vance to meet with ICE agents this week in Minnesota
https://www.startribune.com/ice-raids-minnesota/601546426
(Is JD going to give ICE a correction or a pep-talk? /;)
Yup. One can see the docility to which SPQR has accepted the transition of Octavianus Augustus into an imperator. At least Augustus could claim that he found a Rome of stone and clay and left one of marble…
I think you meant rule of law.
Haha, a Freudian typo! Fixing. But in the font WordPress imposes on me, it’s very hard to see the difference.
Dunno – most libertarians I know prefer the “rule of consensual relations” over a “rule of law.” ;-)
I agree! I’ve lived here all my life.
Waltz was on the GOP radar ever since his VP candidacy. Watching right wing politicos their music hasn’t changed since then.
While we faught the invasion prior, the murder of Renee changed everything. She is everyone’s daughter.
It’s like a passage from “Precious Freedom”. This is a rerun of Viet Nam, The Feds are playing political games, and we are united, fighting for our lives.
American police everywhere are secretly thanking ICE for blazing this path, removing the last hurdles, which is precisely why ICE, DHS and CBP have been able to get this far. At every step of the way it has always been with the cooperation of local police, the local police have had their backs, everywhere, and will comply with even their own being attacked.
As I’ve said elsewhere, they’ll be soon be assisting with roundup efforts and sending people to the camps. This is what police did across Nazi occupied Europe, it’s what they’ll do in America.
I don’t think so. Maybe in some areas or in some departments or for some bad cops, but not overall or in total. I hope I’m right. / my 2 cents.
Perhaps Minnesota should initiate succession proceedings and engage in talks with Canada to join as a new Province. The threat of doing so might cause a pause in Trump’s Caesarian march.
“A republic, if you can keep it.”
-Ben Franklin
Might as well, as I don’t see the Republic surviving this. What’s happening here in Minnesota is coming soon to the rest of the US. This administration has demonstrated that compliance to their demands only results in more extreme demands.
The sad thing is Trump isn’t the first, just likely the last. This fascist trail was blazed by Reagan and accelerated by Clinton, Bush, Obama and Biden.
All for the sake of their masters who are giving them additional instructions in Davos right now.
Trump is neither the first nor the last.
The US will either cast off their shackles or disappear in the dustbin of history, so I think he’s the last.
I don’t think so, not after seeing what ‘nice’ Canada’s govt did to the Truckers’ Convoy protestors. And, oh yes, the Canadian govt will offer you ‘death service’ for things like disability or depression. That now accounts for 5% of all deaths in Canada. 5%!
https://www.cardus.ca/news/news-releases/latest-data-confirm-maid-has-gone-from-exceptional-to-routine/
No, become part of Canada? Think twice about that.
There is no argument that you could possibly make that would make joining Canada less attractive. I’m dead serious, and as a US Army veteran it pains me to say so. The constitution of the US is dead. The rest of the US doesn’t realize it, but it is plain to us here in MSP. There are no rights other than the self-assigned and SCOTUS approved impunity for Feds use of force, internal or abroad. It might be possible to break out the paddles and revive the constitution in some form, but this administration has crossed an event horizon from which there is no return.
I recommend this link from today’s links.
https://bryanmoir.substack.com/p/the-standing-ovation-trap
Carney’s role during the Truckers Freedom Convoy was not incidental.
True, it was not incidental, it was non-existent.
IIRC at the time Mark Carney was in the USA working for some financial institution. His last position with the Government of Canada ended when he left the post of Governor of the Bank of Canada in 2020.
I aqm all for protests. However, the truckers’s protest in Canada was, from what I could gather, run not by drivers working for big companies, but individual operators that were incensed not by the Canadian control at the border, but in fact American controls and exigences, on which the Canadian gov could do nothing about.
Temporarily cutting the access to accounts and donated money was the least physically impactfull way to end that protest. I do cheer the farmers in Europe and their farm equipment, but the Canadian truckers, nope. As epidemiologist, seeing the porosity of the borders, gave me lots of pause. Ou sont le quarantins d’autre temps.
As for MAiD, yes, I agree, it shouldn’t be ever offered as a “treatment”, ever. This is though a reflection of the character and professionalism of those making the offer, likely some bureaucrats, which can extremely spineless at times. But the fact that it is 5% of causes of death is not necessarily a moral or systemic failure, but maybe a reflection of the will of individuals under certain circumstances. The only thing we have and we control in the deepest sense, it is our own body. When life in the body is no longer worth living…
Again, I recommend reading the above link from today’s links.
From the article:
Carney’s role during the Truckers Freedom Convoy was not incidental. The use of the Emergencies Act followed the logic of pressure-based sovereignty: redefine protest as systemic risk, invoke economic threat, and justify extraordinary measures through necessity rather than law.
From what I saw through Canadian media and social commentators–I was not in Ottawa–it was not even clear that the majority of the Convoy members were even truckers.
It looked like a motley crew of far-right protestors, people who were mad at the Gov’t for any number of reasons, a few bible thumpers and a few people who were there for the fun.
The ostensible reasons for the protests were almost all provincial responsibilities. The Federal Gov’t could not do anything about them without precipitating a constitutional crisis.
Perhaps to top things off the rather amorphous leadership were issuing “manifestos” advocating sedition.
You may have noticed that I am not a fan of that Convoy of Fools and Grifters and some Honest Protestors.
On the other hand some of those protesters had good reason to be angry with the Federal Gov’t and were quite justified in protesting. As far as I can see their legitimate complaints got buried in theatrics, criminal behaviour, and general hoopla from the idiots.
Temporarily cutting the access to accounts and donated money was the least physically impactfull way to end that protest.
This did not have anything to do with ending the protest. The Canadian Gov’t decided that it did not appreciate foreign funds financing a political protest in Canada. I have never seen a definite figure but estimates at the time were that at least 17% of funds donated came from foreign sources. At the same time because of the amorphous leadership structure it was unclear where the money was going.
The protest was dispersed when the Federal Government evoked the Emergencies Act. Generally speaking, policing in Canada is a provincial matter–I’m simplifying slightly but not by much.
Until the Emergencies Act was invoked, the Canadian Government had no legal policing jurisdiction outside of the Parliamentary Precinct’ or “off the hill” as we say. So Semi cabs parked on Wellington St. about 200 metres from the front door of the main Parliament Building and sounding their air horns at random intervals day and night could not be touched by the Federal Gov’t. Due to an Ontario Premier who should have been dealing with most of this going missing, nothing was getting done.
People were unable to sleep because of the blasted air horns, anyone wearing a mask could suddenly find themselves being harassed on the sidewalk, there were reports of protestors defecating on peoples, doorsteps, one protestor defecated on the war memorial in Confederation Square, businesses were closing because customers feared for their safety.
The Emergencies Act gave the Government authority over the land occupied by the Convoy and the power to co-opt provincial and municipal police forces. This enabled them to assemble a force of police officers from several Ontario and Québec forces and to requisition tow trucks to remove large trucks if needed.
Once that force was assembled, the actual removal went fairly quickly and, as far as I could tell, with no violence though I think I saw one woman bounce off the shoulder of a police horse. Neither horse nor woman was moving fast enough for either to be injured.
You think one woman “bounced off the shoulder of a police horse”?
Investigation begins after woman gets trampled by police horse | APTN News
Here’s a refresher, utube, ~1 minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBkafptu__g
Horses that size can weigh between 900-1000 pounds.
I’ve dreamt about this since my Wisconsin childhood. Why not get Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Dakota on board?
But then when Trump takes Canada…. ;-)
That said, the last time a state tried to secede* it did not work out all that well for it (them). That would seem to give Trump the excuse to really send in the troops…
Lotsa money to be made in Reconstruction Era II, though.
*too bad they didn’t push harder for nullification back in the 19th century when they had the chance.
It’s already not working out for Minnesota. It’s only a matter of time before they start using live ammunition all of the time. The only way this stops is for the Feds to leave, but as recently discussed here, stopping the occupation isn’t the same as ending it. This is going to come to an inevitable conclusion for better or worse, so the rest of you need to act while we Minnesotans absorb their resources.
I know of a couple of major cities a few states south of Minnesota that have been approached by ICE as locations to build detention centers. So far, both cities have refused. They don’t want to be associated with ICE’s version of immigration enforcement. Not that they’re against immigration enforcement per se. It’s the ICE version of barely trained yahoos creating mayhem and violating basic rights they don’t want coming to their cities.
Some context for Chief Bruley’s remarks:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/minnesota-police-chiefs-allege-some-ice-agents-racially-profiled-us-citizens-including-off-duty-officers
He was speaking at the press conference following a meeting of Minnesota Police Chiefs regarding the occupation. If there’s confusion over which city, Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis, St. Paul, etc. that’s why- all of the above were present along with the Sheriff of Hennepin County. I couldn’t find the complete list, but the officers standing in the backgrounds in the video are all chiefs, not rank and file officers.
I apologize for so many comments, but this occupation is literally happening in my neighborhood. The city just issued a statement saying that cars “abandoned” due to ICE activity will be towed by the city and kept impounded at no charge to the owner. Think about it- there are enough people being dragged from their cars (often left with doors open and windows smashed) that the city has to respond with a policy and a budget
The city already changed it- a new (yesterday 3pm) announcement says they have stopped towing abandoned cars altogether unless they are a safety hazard. That lasted a day. I went to get the link and saw the change.
Bystanders are now helping to move abandoned vehicles to safety.
MSNOW had a reporter who arrived minutes after an incident at 29th and Blaisdell this afternoon and after ICE agents smashed the driver’s window, dragged them away and left the car in the intersection, witnesses moved the car to a nearby parking lot for safety.
I’ll see if I can find a link to the segment.
“We shouldn’t have to live in a country where people fear that federal law enforcement will be used to play politics or crack down on local voices they disagree with,” – Frey
Speaking of playing politics – the Dems are all about talking of de-funding ICE…. something they know will never happen…it’s just talk. Just like the FBI, after warning of monumental mortgage fraud by the top players, was told to redefine mortgage fraud as only committed by homeowners….Bada bing, bada boom 2008. Here, they talk about de-funding ICE and not a word, not a whisper about re-introducing HR1470 – ending qualified immunity act and S492 Ending qualified immunity act !!!!
Its the old game plan….make a pretend fight for something that ain’t going to happen while, not taking action on something that could easily cure the problem problem.
Of course, the people will have to demand their reps to do, or, go packing …no matter which party.
A vast majority of the Democrats in power are NOT talking about de-funding of ICE. The closest they have gotten to this is adding language to funding bills that makes it look like they are trying to reign in ICE, at full funding. It’s not even a pretend fight.
They are calling for more training when it’s plain as day that ICE is performing exactly as trained.
The erosion of the Rule of Law began with the Nixon reaction to the Civil Rights and anti-War movements during the late 1960’s and culminated with Obama and Holder’s doctrine of “Too Big to Jail.” The law became a hollow shell that protects elites but does not bind them, and that binds the masses but does not protect them.
“Rules for thee but not for me” is the essence of the bad joke of so-called “libertarianism” in America. It was inevitable that our click-bait tabloid/television dopamine-dispenser culture would put an illiterate sociopath in charge, who would ordinarily have been imprisoned long ago but for his elite caste status. If Keith Ellison, Mary Moriarty, Tim Walz, and the police chiefs don’t stand up to this tyranny we are going to reap the whirlwind.
Jesus! At least the SS had cool uniforms.
These are the SA, aka Brownshirts. The SS isn’t here yet, although the Gestapo equivalent probably is.
At this point there are no good outcomes, it will go to guns and no one wins when that happens.
I can’t help wondering how much of the recent fireworks (Venezuela, Minneapolis, Greenland) is targeted at burying the Epstein files. I haven’t heard much about them for a while now. Unlike the three issues mentioned, the Epstein files would result in immediate and close to unanimous votes to impeach, So the recent headlines have been very useful for Trump.
Update from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Live: Appeals court sides with ICE over its tactics against protesters
https://www.startribune.com/ice-raids-minnesota/601546426
This case and others like it will wind up in the Supreme Court….some day.